Method and apparatus for updating key in an active state

ABSTRACT

A method for updating a key in an active state is disclosed according to the embodiments of the present invention. The method includes steps of: initiating a key update by a user equipment in the active state or a network side when a pre-defined condition is met; updating the key by the network side and the user equipment, and negotiating an activation time of the new keys. An apparatus for updating a key in an active state is also disclosed according to the present invention. With the present invention, the user equipment in an active state and the network side may actively initiate the key update procedure in different cases, thereby solving the problem concerning the key update for a session in an active state.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/CN2008/072534, filed on Sep. 25, 2008, which claims priority toChinese Patent Application No. 200710151885.5, filed on Sep. 28, 2007,both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to communications field, and morespecifically, to method and apparatus for updating key in an activestate.

BACKGROUND

To guarantee the competitive edge of the 3GPP (3rd GenerationPartnership Project) in the future, the work on evolved accesstechnology is in progress within the 3GPP organization. Especially tostrengthen the capability of 3GPP system for processing rapidlyincreasing IP data service, packet technology employed in the 3GPPsystem requires further improvement. Some most important parts of suchevolved technology include: decreased delay and reaction time,accelerated user data rate, enhanced system capacity and coverage, andreduced overall cost of the operators. Moreover, the evolved networkstructure is also an important indicator for the backward compatibilityof the existing network. In terms of the security therein, the usersecurity procedure in the evolved network is required to guarantee thata security mechanism is provided which at least has a same level as thatof the current 2G and 3G system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the core network of the wireless evolved networkmainly includes logic function entities such as a Mobility ManagementEntity (MME), a System Architecture Evolution Gateway (SAE Gateway), andso forth. The MME is responsible for mobility management of controlplane including managing the user context and mobility state, allocatingtemporary user identification, security function, etc. The SAE Gatewayis responsible for paging downlink data in an idle state, managing andstoring IP bearer context and routing information in the network, etc.,serving as an anchor point for user plane between different accesssystems. In the wireless evolved network, the security of the user planeis terminated at the access network, where a Base Station (BS) of theaccess network is referred to as an evolved NodeB (eNB). The security ofthe signaling plane is divided into two parts, namely Access Stratumsignaling Radio Resource Control (RRC) and Non Access Stratum (NAS)signaling, terminated at the access network and the core networkrespectively. The key required to secure the signaling and the data isderived diversely from keys, i.e., CK, IK, generated during anAuthentication and Key Agreement (AKA) procedure. The deriving relationsare illustrated as FIG. 2.

Therein, K_(eNB-RRC-INI) is a security key for the integrity of RRCsignaling, K_(eNB-RRC-ENC) is a security key for the encryption of RRCsignaling, and K_(eNB-RRC-UP) is a security key for the encryption ofuser plane data, whereas K_(NAS-ENC) is a security key for theencryption of the NAS, and K_(NAS-INI) is a security key for theintegrity of NAS signaling.

SUMMARY

A method and an apparatus for updating a key in an active state areprovided according to embodiments of the present invention, in order toupdate the key in the active state.

To this end, a method for updating a key in an active state is providedaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The method includesfollowing steps:

initiating a key update by a user equipment in the active state or anetwork side when a pre-defined condition is met; and

updating the key by the network side and the user equipment, andnegotiating an activation time of the new keys.

A user equipment for updating a key in an active state is also providedaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The user equipmentincludes:

a terminal key update detecting unit, configured to determine based on apre-defined condition whether a key update needs to be initiated; and

a terminal key update initiating unit, configured to send a key updaterequest message to a network side when the terminal key update detectingunit determines that the key needs to be updated.

A network side entity for updating a key in an active state is alsoprovided according to an embodiment of the present invention. Thenetwork side entity includes:

a key update detecting unit, configured to determine based on apre-defined condition whether a key update needs to be initiated;

a key update initiating unit, configured to send a request message forindicating the key update, when the key update detecting unit determinesthat the key needs to be updated; and

a key updating unit, configured to update the key when the userequipment or the network side entity initiates the key update.

Another method for updating a key in an active state is also providedaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

initiating, by a network side, a key update when a pre-defined conditionis met; and

updating the key by the network side, and informing a user equipment ofthe new key.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of a wireless evolved network accordingto the conventional art;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of deriving relations regarding keysaccording to the conventional art;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method for updating a key in anactive state according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of updating a key in an active statewhich is actively initiated by a UE according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of updating a key in an active statewhich is actively initiated by an eNB at a network side according to athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of updating a key in an active statewhich is actively initiated by an eNB at a network side according to afifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of updating a key in an active statewhich is actively initiated by an MME at a network side according to asixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart in which an eNB informs a UE of new keysvia an air-interface key update procedure according to a seventhembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart in which an eNB informs a UE of new keysvia an air-interface key update procedure according to an eighthembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic of a system for updating a key in anactive state according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In implementing the present invention, it is discovered that the aboveconventional schema encounters at least the following problems.

In the System Architecture Evolution (SAE)/Long Term Evolution (LTE)system, related discussion involving methods of how the key can beinstantly applied to an activating conversation after the keynegotiation has already been proposed. All of the methods therein areproposed given that the key has already been updated to be a new key,but no procedure regarding how to acquire the new key is involved.Therefore, it is necessary to provide a method for addressing the issueof how to negotiate new keys in an active state. In addition, the keyupdate in the active state requires that the network side may also havethe capacity for initiating the key negotiation. In the conventionalart, the network side will not actively initiate the key updateprocedure. Rather, only after the user switches from a non-active stateinto an active state and initiates an initial NAS message to the networkside, e.g., an attach request, a paging response, a location updaterequest, etc., the network side may determine whether a certain kind ofkey needs to be updated.

Detailed description will be made to the present invention in connectionwith the annexed drawings and embodiments.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, a method for updatinga key in an active state is that a user equipment (UE) may determinewhether the key needs to be updated in the active state. The method forupdating the key in the active state is as shown in FIG. 3. The methodincludes below steps.

Step s301: A user equipment in an active state or a network side maydetermine that a key update is required based on a pre-configuration,and initiate the key update.

The pre-configuration may include: (1) the user equipment finds out thata COUNT to which the User Plane (UP) or the RRC related is arriving atan upper threshold; (2) the user equipment has performed a handoverbetween two eNBs, a handover within one eNB, or an inter-systemhandover; (3) the user equipment or the network side finds out thatK_(ASME) has not been updated for a long period.

Step s302: The network side performs the key update procedure.

The key update includes: updating all of the keys through the AKAauthentication procedure; or, only updating derived keys of K_(ASME)rather than performing AKA to update K_(ASME).

Step s303: The user equipment and the network side may acquire theupdated keys.

Step s304: After the new keys are acquired, the user equipment and thenetwork side may negotiate an activation time of the new keys.

Detailed description will be made to the present invention in connectionwith different application scenarios.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, a method for updatinga key in an active state is as shown in FIG. 4, where the UE mayactively initiate the key update procedure in the active state. Themethod includes below steps.

Step s401: When in active state, the UE finds out that the key needs tobe updated due to some reason, the UE may actively trigger the keyupdate procedure to the MME at the network side.

The possible reasons for updating the key may include: (1) the COUNTs towhich the UP or the RRC related is arriving at the upper threshold; (2)the UE just has performed a handover to a new eNB; (3) K_(ASME) has notbeen updated for a long period. The UE may trigger the key updateprocedure by sending to the MME, a TAU/RAU request, or a special attachrequest, or a special service request, or a key update request message.

If the key update is trigged by means of sending a TAU/RAU message asthe key update request, even if no update occurs for location/routingarea of the UE, this TAU/RAU request may also be sent, in which that theold routing area identification is identical with the new routing areaidentification. To identify the key update request, Update type in theTAU/RAU request may be set as a special value, indicating that the keyneeds to be updated. The special value may utilize a unified specialvalue for different reasons, or may distinctively utilize differentvalues regarding different reasons (a RRC/UP counter value overflows, ora handover has been performed, or lifetime of K_(ASME) expires). Or, theUE may not indicate, but employ several existing values (e.g., thevalues indicating the routing/location area changing). In addition,since a periodic location registration requires no key update, theUpdate type shall be distinguished from it. To distinguish from theperiodic location/routing registration, it is better for the Update typeto employ a value other than the value indicating the “Periodicupdating” such as 000.

Notes: several values for the Update type in the existing UMTS are asshown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 0 0 0 RA updating 0 0 1 combined RA/LA updating 0 1 0 combinedRA/LA updating with IMSI attach 0 1 1 Periodic updating

Step s402: After the MME receives the request that triggers the keyupdate procedure (may be one of the requests mentioned at step 401), theMME may perform the related key update procedure according to therequest type.

The AKA authentication procedure may be initiated if K_(ASME) needs tobe updated, e.g., an inter-system handover has been performed fromGSM/UNITS to SAE/LTE, or lifetime of K_(ASME) expires.

New derived keys may be calculated based on K_(ASME), if there is noneed to update K_(ASME), and only its derived keys need to be updated,e.g., the key update is required when a handover has been performedwithin the LTE system, or as a RRC/UP counter value arrives at an upperthreshold, in which case only K_(eNB), or together with K_(NAS-int) andK_(NAS-enc) may be updated.

Step s403: The AKA procedure is performed to update the keys if it isdetermined to update K_(ASME) at step s402. This step is optional.

Step s404: Each key is updated according to the determination at steps402. The related key is calculated based on the existing K_(ASME) key,if only the derived keys of K_(ASME) needs to be updated.

Step s405: The MME sends the new keys to the eNB.

Step s406: The eNB and the UE negotiate the activation time of the newkeys.

The eNB may notify the activation time of the new keys using one of thefollowing methods, or a method other than the following ones.

(1) The eNB may inform the UE of the activation time of the new keys viaa simplified security mode command, and the UE may acknowledge thereception of the security mode command. The UE and the network side mayactivate the new key according to the activation time of the new keys.If the NAS keys need to be updated, step s405 may further includeinitiating an NAS security mode command in order to negotiate theactivation time of new NAS keys.

(2) The eNB may initiate an intra-cell handover command, requesting theUE to perform handover to a current serving cell of the eNB itself sothat the UE may use the new keys.

(3) The eNB may add a KSI along with each data packet in order toindicate which key the UE could use for decryption.

In addition to the above methods, one may also refer to the belowdescription described in step s801 in the seventh embodiment or steps901 in the eighth embodiment.

Step s407: The network side sends a response message to the user inorder to complete all the procedures for key update.

It is to be noted that the activation time of the new NAS keys may alsobe carried in this response.

In the third embodiment of the present invention, a method for updatinga key in an active state is as shown in FIG. 5, where the eNB at thenetwork side may actively initiate the key update procedure in theactive state.

The present embodiment refers to the key update procedure initiated bythe eNB. When the COUNTs related to the UP or RRC encryption/integritysecurity is about to arrive at an upper threshold (about to wraparound), the related key may probably need to be updated in order toprevent repeated key stream. Or, even if the COUNTs does not arrive atthe upper threshold, but the UE is in LTE_ACTIVE state for a longperiod, the user plane security key, i.e., Kup-enc or KeNB, may probablyneed to be updated. In the two scenarios above, there is no need toupdate K_(ASME) and K_(MME), only K_(up) and K_(RRC) need to be updated.Of course, at this point, K_(ASME) may also be updated.

The key update procedure in the third embodiment is described asfollows.

Step s501: When the eNB finds out the key needs to be updated accordingto the above security requirement, the eNB may send to the MME a keyupdate request message, requesting the MME to generate a new K_(eNB).The MME may then derive a new K_(eNB) from K_(ASME).

The key update request message may probably be: (1) a request messagespecifically for requesting the MME to update the key by the eNB, wherean MME response is required regarding this request message; (2) anotification type of message, notifying the MME that the key needs to beupdated, where no MME response is required regarding this notificationmessage.

Step s502: The MME may update the key, K_(eNB), accordingly. Therein,K_(eNB) may be derived by the MME from the existing K_(ASME), or, may becalculated by the MME after K_(ASME) is updated through the AKAprocedure.

Step s503: The MME sends the new K_(eNB) to the eNB. The MME may sendthe key to the eNB in the following manners:

(1) via a key update response message corresponding to the key updaterequest sent by the eNB according to step s501;

(2) via a context modification message actively initiated by the MME,where the new key is sent to the eNB in the modification message;

(3) via a security context modification message actively initiated bythe MME, where the new key is sent to the eNB in the modificationmessage.

It is to be noted that in addition to the new K_(eNB), the MME may alsoneed to send other parameters required for calculating K_(eNB) to theeNB in the above manners. For example, when the MME is calculating thenew key using the existing K_(ASME), a variable parameter (e.g., acounter, a random number) may probably need to be introduced. Thus, thisvariable parameter may also need to be sent to the eNB and then sent tothe UE via the eNB, so that the UE may calculate the new K_(eNB) usingthe same parameter.

The eNB may derive new K_(UP) and K_(RRC) based on this new K_(eNB).C-RNTI or a random number may be employed as an input parameter duringthe deriving procedure. If C-RNTI is employed, the original C-RNTI mayprobably be utilized, or a C-RNTI parameter may probably be newlygenerated for the UE.

Step s504: An air-interface new key initiating procedure, i.e., a methodconcerning how to negotiate an activation time of the new keys isprovided. In addition to the methods descried in the prior descriptionsuch as the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) SN or KSI, or the UEis forced to perform an active-idle-active state transition, or anintra-cell handover, one may also refer to the below descriptiondescribed in step s801 and step s802 in the seventh embodiment or steps901 and step s902 in the eighth embodiment.

If the MME sends K_(eNB) in the manner (2) at step s503, the eNB mayprobably need to send a response message of (security) contextmodification after the new key is activated.

In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, a method for updatinga key in an active state is as shown in FIG. 5, where the eNB at thenetwork side may actively initiate the key update procedure in theactive state.

The present embodiment refers to the key update procedure initiated bythe eNB. When the COUNTs related the UP or RRC encryption/integritysecurity is about to arrive at an upper threshold (about to wraparound), the related key may probably need to be updated in order toprevent repeated key streams. Or, even if the COUNTs does not arrive atthe upper threshold, but the UE is in LTE_ACTIVE state for a longperiod, the user plane security key, i.e., K_(UP-enc) or K_(eNB), mayprobably need to be updated. In the two scenarios above, there is noneed to update K_(ASME) and K_(MME), only K_(up) and K_(RRC) need to beupdated.

The difference between the third embodiment and the present embodimentis that K_(eNB) is updated in the third embodiment whereas K_(eNB) isnot updated in the present embodiment. The key update procedure in thefourth embodiment is described as follows.

(1) When the eNB finds out that the key needs to be updated (the eNBfinds out that the key needs to be updated according to the securityrequirement mentioned above), the eNB may generate a random number or anew C-RNTI, and then generate a new RRC/UP key using K_(eNB) and otherparameters.

(2) The eNB may inform the UE of the new key parameters via theair-interface key update procedure. The air-interface key updateprocedure utilized herein may refer to the description of followingembodiments.

In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, a method for updatinga key in an active state is as shown in FIG. 6, where the eNB at thenetwork side may actively initiate the key update procedure in theactive state. The method includes below steps.

Step s601: In a non-handover scenario, if the network side such as eNBdesires to update the key, an intra-cell handover command is thus sentto the UE, i.e., requesting the UE to perform handover to the sourcecell (target cell is identical with source cell).

Step s602: The UE may access the eNB cell again upon the receipt of thehandover command.

The description of step s603 to step s609 in the follow-up procedure mayrefer to step s401 to step s407 in the second embodiment, which isomitted herein for brevity.

In the sixth embodiment of the present invention, a method for updatinga key in an active state is as shown in FIG. 7, where the MME at thenetwork side may actively initiate the key update procedure. The methodincludes below steps.

Step s701: When the MME at the network side finds out that K_(ASME) hasbeen used for a long period or an inter-RAT handover has been performedto the UE and so forth, after which K_(ASME) needs to be updated, theMME may then determine to actively initiate the AKA procedure. Thenetwork side needs to set a valid time for each K_(ASME) so that acorresponding procedure can be triggered instantly when the valid timearrives at the upper threshold.

Step s702: The MME actively initiates a special paging message to theUE. This step is optional.

A Paging cause of the special paging request may be NULL or a specialvalue indicative of the key update.

Step s703: The UE sends a paging response to the network upon thereceipt of the paging message.

Steps s702 and s703 are optional.

Step s704: When the MME sends to the UE an authentication requestmessage in order to initiate to perform the AKA, or upon the receipt ofthe paging response, similar to the receipt of the paging messageaccording to the conventional art, the MME may thus determine to performthe AKA, and may initiate the AKA procedure to the UE.

Step s705: The MME generates each derived key.

Step s706: The MME sends K_(eNB) to the eNB. K_(eNB) may be sentspecifically in the manner of carrying the K_(eNB) in the NAS messageand informing the UE of the activation time of the new NAS keys, whichis optional.

The MME may send the new key to the eNB in one of the following manners:

(1) employing a context modification message that is actively sent tothe eNB; the context modification message may employ a special S1initial context establishment message, or a newly defined S1 interfacesignaling. The context modification message includes the new key.

(2) employing a security context modification message that is activelysent to the eNB. The security context modification message includes thenew key.

Of course, other similar messages may also be employed for the sending.

Step s707: The eNB and the UE negotiate the activation time of the newkeys. Optionally, the activation time of the NAS keys may also benegotiated during this procedure.

Step s708: The user communicates with the network side using the newkeys.

In respect of the newly generated key, the eNB needs to inform the UE ofthe start of the new keys via the air-interface key update procedure.During the key update procedure, the main purpose of the air-interfacekey update procedure is to: (1) send parameters relating to the derivedkeys to the UE, e.g., a new C-RNTI or a random number; (2) inform the UEof the activation time of the keys.

In the seventh embodiment of the present invention, the description ismade by way of Security Mode Command (SMC) procedure as an example,where the eNB informs the UE of the start of the new keys via theair-interface key update procedure. Referring to FIG. 8, following stepsare included.

Step s801: The eNB determines based on triggering reasons that a specialSMC message needs to be sent to the UE.

The SMC message may include one or more of the following parameters: (1)parameters required for deriving the key such as a new C-RNTI, a randomnumber, and so forth; (2) a downlink activation time of the NAS keys;(3) a downlink activation time of the RRC keys; (4) an uplink and adownlink activation time of the user plane keys; (5) other possibleparameters, e.g., an activation time of new keys for determining uplinkdata packets (including data packets of the user plane and the controlplane).

In addition, when a downlink message is sent by the eNB, the eNB may:(1) stop sending the downlink data, so that the downlink activation timemay begin from a next data packet; (2) continue to send data packets,but the PDCP SN for activating using of new keys may be set a littlelarger so as to avoid a key activation error due to the rapid sending ofthe packets.

Of course, in addition to the SMC message, a new command such as newlydefined security context modification command/security re-configurationcommand may also be utilized to request the UE to switch the key in useaccording to parameters or a time carried in the command.

Step s802: The UE returns a corresponding message to the eNB upon thereceipt of the related message.

Specifically, upon the receipt of the SMC message, the UE may derive newkeys based on the related parameters. Optionally, an activation time ofthe uplink data packets (including data packets of the user plane andthe control plane) may also be required. The UE may then return therelated message to the eNB. A PDCP SN for initiating the new keys iscarried in the related message. The UE may not stop sending the datapackets, but calculate new keys and acquire activation time of the newkeys, and then send the new activation time to the eNB. At this point,the activation time of the keys for the uplink data packets needs to beset a little backward if this method is adopted.

Step s803: The air-interfaces may communicate under the protection ofthe new keys.

In the eighth embodiment of the present invention, the description ismade by way of an intra-cell handover procedure as an example, where theeNB informs the UE of a new key activation via the air-interface keyupdate procedure. Referring to FIG. 9, following steps are included.

Step s901: The eNB determines based on triggering reasons that an HOCommand message needs to be sent to the UE.

In normal cases, the HO Command message may be sent to the UE in orderto tell the UE to perform handover to another Cell, so that the HOCommand message may carry air recourses, C-RNTI, etc., assigned by theanother Cell. However, in the embodiment, the HO Command message ismerely to tell the UE to activate the updated keys rather than toinstruct the UE to perform handover to other Cells. Therefore, sometransformations on the parameters may be required: (1) “transparentcontainer for Target eNB to UE” in the original HO Command messageshould be removed; (2) the C-RNTI in the original message assigned tothe UE by “target eNB cell” shall be modified as a new C-RNTI assignedby “Source eNB cell” itself; (3) an activation time of the NAS keysprobably required should be added; (4) a downlink activation time of theRRC keys shall be added; (5) a downlink activation time of the userplane keys shall be added; (6) values for the reason shall be added,telling the UE that the present HO Command message is to instruct the UEto update the key rather than to perform a real handover.

Moreover, according to general requirements of the HO Command, the eNBwill not deliver any data packet after the HO Command message is sent.

Step s902: After the HO Command message is received by the UE, the UEmay: (1) determine based on the values of the reason that the presenthandover is merely for the key update, and therefore synchronizing withthe new cell is not required; (2) stop sending the uplink data packets;(3) derive new keys; (4) determine an activation time of the uplink datapackets; (5) send a message to the eNB, informing the eNB of theactivation time of the uplink data packets.

Step s903: The UE and the eNB may communicate with each other under theprotection of the new keys.

With the methods provided according to the embodiments of the presentinvention, the user equipment in the active state and the network sidemay actively initiate the key update procedure in different cases,thereby solving the problem concerning the key update for a session inthe active state. In addition, the implementation procedure is simpleand easy to accomplish.

In the ninth embodiment of the present invention, a system for updatinga key in an active state is also disclosed. Referring to FIG. 10, thesystem includes at least a user equipment 10 and a network side entity20, where the user equipment in the active state and the network sideentity may initiate the key update and update the key when a pre-definedcondition is met.

Specifically, the user equipment 10 further includes:

a terminal key update detecting unit 11, configured to determine basedon a pre-defined condition whether the key update needs to be initiated;

a terminal key update initiating unit 12, configured to send a keyupdate request message to the network side entity 20 when the terminalkey update detecting unit 11 determines that the key needs to beupdated; and

a terminal key update setting unit 13, configured to pre-define thecondition for initiating the key update and provide the condition to theterminal key update detecting unit 11.

Specifically, the network side entity 20 specifically includes:

a key update detecting unit 21, configured to determine based on apre-defined condition whether the key update needs to be initiated;

a key update initiating unit 22, configured to send a request message tothe user equipment 10 for instructing the key update, when the keyupdate detecting unit 21 determines that the key needs to be updated;

a key updating unit 23, configured to update the key when the userequipment 10 or the network side entity 20 initiates the key update;

a key update setting unit 24, configured to pre-define the condition forinitiating the key update and provide the condition to the key updatedetecting unit 21; and

a key start negotiating unit 25, configured to negotiate an activationtime of the new keys with the user equipment.

Therein, the functions of the units mentioned above may be realized viathe MME at the network side and the eNB.

With the systems and the apparatuses provided according to theembodiments of the present invention, the user equipment in the activestate and the network side may actively initiate the key updateprocedure in different cases, thereby solving the problem concerning thekey update for a session in the active state. In addition, theimplementation procedure is simple and easy to accomplish.

Compared with the conventional art, the embodiments of the presentinvention enjoy the following advantages: The user equipment in theactive state and the network side may actively initiate the key updateprocedure in different cases, thereby solving the problem concerning thekey update for a session in the active state.

With the description of the foregoing embodiments, it is readilyappreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention maybe implemented with hardware, and may also be implemented with softwareon a necessary hardware platform. Based on this understanding, solutionsprovided by the present invention may be embodied in a software product.The software product may be stored in a nonvolatile storage media (maybe a CD-ROM, a USB flash disc, a mobile hard disc, etc.) The softwareproduct may include a set of instructions enabling a computer device(may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) toperform methods according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. In addition, the foregoing embodiments take SAE/LTE system asan example. The eNB described in the foregoing embodiments refers to aBase Station (BS) of the SAE/LTE system. It is readily appreciated bythose skilled in the art that the BS is not limited to the eNB. Any BaseStation that realizes the similar function as the eNB stated above shallfall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

In summary, the foregoing is merely preferred embodiments of the presentinvention and is not intended to be limiting to the scope of the presentinvention. Any modifications, equivalents, improvements made within thespirit and principle of the present invention shall be construed as fallwithin the scope of the present invention.

1. A method for updating a key in an active state, comprising:initiating a key update procedure by a network side when a pre-definedcondition is met; and updating, by an evolved NodeB (eNB) at the networkside, air-interface keys based on a new key K_(eNB), and negotiating, bythe eNB at the network side with a user equipment, an activation time ofthe air-interface keys; wherein the new key K_(eNB) is generated duringthe key update procedure and informed by a Mobility Management Entity(MME) at the network side; wherein the negotiating, by the eNB at thenetwork side with the user equipment, the activation time of theair-interface keys comprises one or more of: sending, by the eNB at thenetwork side, a message carrying the activation time of theair-interface keys to the user equipment; sending by the eNB at thenetwork side an intra-cell handover command to the user equipment, toinstruct the user equipment to use the updated key after an intra-cellhandover to a current eNB cell; carrying a key identification along withdata packets of the network side, to indicate the key for decryption bythe user equipment; carrying the activation time of the air-interfacekeys in a key update response message sent from the eNB at the networkside to the user equipment; negotiating, by the eNB at the network sidewith the user equipment, the activation time of the air-interface keys,via a Security Mode Command (SMC) procedure; negotiating, by the eNB atthe network side with the user equipment, the activation time of theair-interface keys, via a safe mode modification procedure; andnegotiating, by the eNB at the network side with the user equipment, theactivation time of the air-interface keys via an intra-cell handoverprocedure.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pre-definedcondition comprises one or more of following conditions: the networkside finds out that a COUNTs number to which a user plane or a wirelessresource control signaling related is about to arrive at an upperthreshold; and the user equipment has performed a handover between twoeNBs, handover within one eNB, or an inter-system handover.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the method for the key updateprocedure initiated by the network side comprises: sending anAuthentication and Key Agreement (AKA) authentication request to theuser equipment when the MME at the network side finds out that the keyneeds to be updated.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein themethod for informing the eNB of the new key K_(eNB) by the MMEcomprises: initiating, by the MME, a context modification message to theeNB; and carrying the new key K_(eNB) or the parameters required forgenerating the new key K_(eNB) in the context modification message. 5.The method according to claim 1, wherein the method for the key updateprocedure initiated by the network side comprises one or more of thefollowing: sending, by the eNB at the network side, the intra-cellhandover command to the user equipment, to instruct the user equipmentto send a key update request to the network side after the intra-cellhandover; sending, by the eNB at the network side, a key update messageto the MME, when K_(eNB) needs to be updated; and sending, by the MME atthe network side, a paging message to the user equipment, to instructthe user equipment to send a key update request to the network side. 6.The method according to claim 5, wherein the method for sending the keyupdate message by the eNB to the MME comprises one or more of: sending,by the eNB, a request message for updating the key to the MME, where anMME response is required regarding the request message; and sending, bythe eNB, a notification message for updating the key to the MME,configured to notify the MME that the key needs to be updated, where noMME response is required regarding the notification message.
 7. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the method for informing the eNB ofthe new key K_(eNB) by the MME comprises one or more of: sending, by theMME, a corresponding key update response message, based on a key updaterequest sent by the eNB; and carrying the new key K_(eNB) or theparameters required for generating the new key K_(eNB) in the key updateresponse message; and initiating, by the MME, a security contextmodification message to the eNB; and carrying the new key K_(eNB) or theparameters required for generating the new key K_(eNB) in the securitycontext modification message.
 8. A user equipment for updating a key inan active state, the user equipment comprising a non-transitory computerreadable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructionsfor implementing a plurality of units, the units comprising: a terminalkey update detecting unit, configured to determine based on apre-defined condition whether a key update procedure needs to beinitiated; and a terminal key update unit, configured to send a keyupdate request message to a network side when the terminal key updatedetecting unit determines that a key needs to be updated, in order tonegotiate, after a Mobility Management Entity (MME) at the network sideinforms an evolved NodeB (eNB) at the network side of a new key K_(eNB)generated during the key update procedure, with the eNB at the networkside about an activation time of air-interface keys updated by the eNBbased on the new key K_(eNB); wherein the negotiating with the eNB atthe network side about the activation time of the air-interface keyscomprises one or more of: receiving a message carrying the activationtime of the air-interface keys from the eNB at the network side;receiving an intra-cell handover command from the eNB at the networkside, wherein the intra-cell handover command is configured to instructthe user equipment to use the updated key after an intra-cell handoverto a current eNB cell; receiving a key identification along with datapackets of the network side, wherein the key identification isconfigured to indicate the key for decryption by the user equipment;receiving the activation time of the air-interface keys in a key updateresponse message sent from the eNB at the network side; negotiating,with the eNB at the network side, the activation time of theair-interface keys, via a Security Mode Command (SMC) procedure;negotiating, with the eNB at the network side, the activation time ofthe air-interface keys, via a safe mode modification procedure; andnegotiating, with the eNB at the network side, the activation time ofthe air-interface keys, via an intra-cell handover procedure.
 9. Theuser equipment according to claim 8, wherein the terminal key updatedetecting unit is configured to determine based on one or more offollowing conditions whether a key update procedure needs to beinitiated: the network side finds out that a COUNTs number to which auser plane or a wireless resource control signaling related is about toarrive at an upper threshold; and the user equipment has performed ahandover between two eNBs, handover within one eNB, or an inter-systemhandover.
 10. A Mobility Management Entity (MME) at a network side forupdating a key in an active state, the MME comprising a non-transitorycomputer readable medium having stored thereon computer executableinstructions for implementing a plurality of units, the unitscomprising: a key update initiating unit, configured to initiate a keyupdate procedure when a user equipment has performed an inter-systemhandover; and a key updating unit, configured to send a new key K_(eNB)generated during the key update procedure to an evolved NodeB (eNB) viaa context modification message, so that the eNB updates air-interfacekeys based on the new key K_(eNB) and negotiates with the user equipmentabout an activation time of the air-interface keys; wherein thenegotiating, by the eNB at the network side with the user equipment,about the activation time of the air-interface keys comprises one ormore of: sending, by the eNB at the network side, a message carrying theactivation time of the air-interface keys to the user equipment;sending, by the eNB at the network side, an intra-cell handover commandto the user equipment, to instruct the user equipment to use the updatedkey after an intra-cell handover to a current eNB cell; carrying a keyidentification along with data packets of the network side, to indicatethe key for decryption by the user equipment; carrying the activationtime of the air-interface keys in a key update response message sentfrom the eNB at the network side to the user equipment; negotiating, bythe eNB at the network side with the user equipment, the activation timeof the air-interface keys, via a Security Mode Command (SMC) procedure;negotiating, by the eNB at the network side with the user equipment, theactivation time of the air-interface keys, via a safe mode modificationprocedure; and negotiating, by the eNB at the network side with the userequipment, the activation time of the air-interface keys via anintra-cell handover procedure.
 11. An evolved NodeB (eNB), at a networkside for updating a key, the eNB comprising: a receiver configured toreceive a new key K_(eNB) or parameters required for generating the newkey K_(eNB) from a Mobility Management Entity (MME) at the network side,wherein the new key K_(eNB) was generated by the MME during a key updateprocedure; and a key updating unit, configured to update air-interfacekeys based on the new key K_(eNB) and negotiate with a user equipmentabout an activation time of the air-interface keys; wherein thenegotiating with the user equipment, about the activation time of theair-interface keys comprises one or more of: sending a message carryingthe activation time of the air-interface keys to the user equipment;sending an intra-cell handover command to the user equipment, toinstruct the user equipment to use the updated key after an intra-cellhandover to a current eNB cell; carrying a key identification along withdata packets of the network side, to indicate the key for decryption bythe user equipment; carrying the activation time of the air-interfacekeys in a key update response message sent from the eNB at the networkside to the user equipment; negotiating with the user equipment theactivation time of the air-interface keys via a Security Mode Command(SMC) procedure; negotiating with the user equipment the activation timeof the air-interface keys via a safe mode modification procedure; andnegotiating with the user equipment the activation time of theair-interface keys via an intra-cell handover procedure.